Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-30
MEMORIAL DAY.
Lancaster's Tribute of Respect
to the Memory Of the Fallen
Brave.


emn cheer is almost past. The sun
this morning wakened old and young
to busy preparation and in every city
and village looked down on crowds of
eager workers, twisting wreaths, fash
Joining bouquets, decking monuments.
unfurling old flags that once waved their
torn folds above our victorious or defeat
ed regiments and on a countless multi
tude of country people who, having put
aside for the day all thought of labor,
were fastening by shadowy country
lanes, towards the high-roads that
lead to their respective villages or cities,
like pilgrims turning towards Mecca,
ike travellers iourneying towards the
Holy Land. These hurrying crowds
were all inspired by one purpose and
bound on one errand. Like them, they
too were coming to offer devotion at a
shrine, shrine made sacred by the
blood of many heroes. The crowds that
have come on like pilgrimage to Lancas-
ter to-day, are less in number than
in years past, for the brightness of the
early morning is darkened by threat
ening clouds. Our simple monu-
ment, with its eloquent inscriptions,
and the noble names which vet
have gathered only their first fame,
stands to-day bedecked with flowers and
wreaths of green. Together with these
honors TO the recorded dead, r bier
draped with the stars and stripes, that
so often covered the soldier dead, stands
beneath the garlanded inscription, ito
the unknown dead" There are people
here who can hardly read the names
upon the stone, the mist so gathers in
their eyes. The names set there recall
TO very life, TIE husband. father, son, so
long since gone, and memory paints in
tender colors the last look, the
struggling smile the quiyering lip
and vet once more recalls the accents of
the dear dead voice. The refrain of
each heart might find voice in Lowells
tender lines.
"Inmortal, know it. feel il
Who doubts 1t OF such as he
But that is the paug's very secret
Immortal away from me-"
1t is rs. yet too early to say how the
exercises were carried out, but the time
for the commencement is already near
at hand. The gathering crowds, strains
OF martial music. groups of white robed
children betoken the near approach of
the commemorative services. Looking
once more at the flower laden monu-
ment we recall Emerson's words uttered
on Il like occasion. IT'S certain that a
plain stone like this, standing on such
memories, having no reference to util-
tiles but only to grand instincts of the
civil and moral man, mixes with sur
rounding Nature, day with the
changing seasons, by night the stars
roll over it gladly, becomes senti-
ment, poet prophet, an orator, to
every townsman and passenger, an al
tar where the noble youth shall in all
time come to make his secret vows -
The following is the address of Capt.
2. J. Clswson:
Mr.. President. Ladies and Gentlemen
and Comrades:
Something over twenty-three hun.
dred years ago the Persian king.
Xerxes. having assembled vast army
of one million of men. attempted to
subiugate Greece, and marched with
his fear-inspiring army into the territory
of the Greeks, spreading ruin and de-
vastaiion everywhere. The cities and
towns and OF all the country were filled
with fear and dismay. But Leonidas,
with three hundred Spartan citizens
and seven hundred Thespians defended
the pass of Thermopylae against the
whole Persian army, until every Spar
tan and Thespian aud Leonidas himself
were slain; and although the Persians
turned the pass by the treachery of
Ephialter, vet the heroic conduct and
God-likc bravery of Leonidas and
his little band of brave men. SO inspired
the Greeks that Xerxes and his great
army were defeated and driven back
and Greece was saved; and the Greeks
in their gratitude erected monument
TO commemorate the bravery and
heioism of the little band who had thus
stood faithfully and brayeiy until desth.
Poets in all ages and climes have
kns, 4af sR
ting praise. and the example set by
this small band has lifted mp and in
spired the world in all the succeeding